It's Monday 11/28! What Are You Reading?

Ahhh! Just back this weekend from a wonderful week in the Florida Keys. It was a fabulous family vacation – super relaxing, lots of fun, and perfect weather. We loved our little rental house on the water in Marathon and never wanted to leave! We enjoyed kayaking through mangrove tunnels, beaches, snorkeling, delicious seafood, and of course, plenty of reading time!

Here's what we've been reading the past two weeks:

I finished my review book, The News from the End of the World by Emily Jeanne Miller (due for release in February 2017), a family drama set on Cape Cod. This one was full of secrets and lies and was quite compelling. I really enjoyed it.

While on vacation, I read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah for my online family book group. I just finished it last night and was completely engrossed in it from start to finish. It's set during World War II but a different perspective than I'd read before. It's set in occupied France – which is in itself fascinating (and horrifying) – and focuses on the unsung roles of women in winning the war and saving people by telling the stories of two sisters who each do their parts in very different ways. Excellent book, though very sad. I have no idea what I'm going to read next! I love that moment of choosing a new book…

On audio, I finished listening to a teen/YA novel called Vivian Apple At the End of the World by Katie Coyle. It's about a teen girl whose parents disappear in a supposed “Rapture” event and the panic that ensues in the world, as Vivian searches for answers. It was one of my free downloads from SYNC – if you didn't participate in the program last year, sign up now for reminders for next summer – dozens of free audio books! I really enjoyed the book and am hooked enough to want to read Book 2. I need to choose my next audiobook, too.

My husband, Ken, read my recent review book, The River of Kings by Taylor Brown (due out in March), because I enjoyed it very much. It's a novel that uniquely combines adventure (a kayaking trip), modern family drama, suspense, and historical fiction. He liked it, too!

Now, Ken is reading Before the Fall by Noah Hawley, a book I gave him for his birthday this fall. It's about the aftermath of a small plane crash with only two survivors: an adult man and a small child.

Jamie, 22, took full advantage of all the extra reading time on vacation! He finished The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. This is Book 1 in the renowned Wheel of Time sci fi series. He and I have both heard great things about this series, so he was thrilled to finally read it! He's asked for more books in the series for Christmas.

Jamie read some (all?) of the Whill of Agora series by Michael James Ploof while on vacation. I don't know how many of the books he got through since he was reading them on his Kindle, but he said they were quick reads (for him!).

Now, Jamie is reading Frostborn: The Gray Knight by Jonathan Moeller and enjoying it. His reading will have to slow down abruptly for a while – 2 more weeks of classes, a week of finals, and then he is off for the winter break and can read nonstop again!

Craig, 18, doesn't enjoy reading for pleasure (whose child is he?), but his girlfriend also came with us on vacation, and she is enjoying reading The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

Lots of great books! That's one of the wonderful things about vacation, isn't it? I was offline all last week, but here are a few blog posts from the previous week:

What are you and your family reading this week? What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

Now I have to get started on my Cyber Monday shopping!

Our lovely backyard in the Keys last week (my son is reading n the hammock & his brother's girlfriend is reading in the chair):